Huawei has formally abandoned Android following a severe prohibition in 2019 with "HarmonyOS Next," a platform that no longer allows Android apps and debuts on the company's newest smartphones.
This week, Huawei debuted its newest book-style foldable, the Mate X6, and the Mate 70 series in China. Numerous hardware improvements are included in the new smartphones, such as the Mate 70 Pro's usage of a spectral imaging sensor for better color accuracy and shadows in images. Along with improved hinge and water resistance, the Mate X6 also boasts similar camera advancements.
However, the main narrative Huawei is promoting is that they are the first devices made with HarmonyOS Next.
When HarmonyOS Next was originally revealed in late 2023, it was shocking to see that it would not allow any Android apps. When Huawei formally revealed the new platform earlier this year, it reiterated that Android would no longer serve as the foundation and that developers would have to create apps specifically for the new platform. More than 10,000 apps were reportedly prepared for the move as of September.
Contrary to popular belief, it appears that the Huawei Mate 70 and Huawei Mate X6 will not be immediately compatible with HarmonyOS Next. HarmonyOS Next won't come pre-installed on the Mate 70, according to GSMArena, while only "some" Mate X6 models will. Instead, the current HarmonyOS 4.3, which is still based on Android, will be used by both devices. Future updates will be made to the new Android-free version.
Richard Yu, Huawei's head of consumer business, stated that these devices "can operate" on the new operating system, which is consistent with this. However, Huawei refrained from announcing that the revised version would be available at launch. The platform will support "100,000 apps in the coming months," according to Yu, who also stated that "the Mate 70 series will offer users a choice between HarmonyOS 4.3, which maintains Android compatibility, and the new HarmonyOS NEXT 5.0," according to Reuters.
It was made clear that starting in 2025, all upcoming Huawei releases would run HarmonyOS Next, so this is probably the last time we'll see Huawei smartphones using Android.
Because of the ongoing US prohibition, Huawei is particularly silent on some of the most important specifications of these devices, most notably the processor. Although the devices use the Chinese-made Kirin 9100, this is not the case.
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